Aminah asked whether one of
the Hertogh children could stay with her. Mrs
Hertogh agreed to let Maria stay with Che
Aminah for three days. Mrs Hertogh was
eventually arrested by the Japanese. After
her release, Che Aminah and Maria were not to
be found. Mrs Hertogh said that she did not
give, nor did her husband authorise the
giving of Maria to Che Aminah to be adopted
by her.

FOSTER
MUM'S STORY

Mrs
Hertogh had suggested that as Aminah had no
children and as she had too many, she would
like her to have one of them. Mrs Hertogh
told her that she did not know if her husband
was alive or dead and, in any case, she would
answer to him for having given the child
away. At no time during the three years after
Maria came to Aminahs house had Mrs
Hertogh asked her either to give Maria back
or to cease treating her as her own child.

First
published in 150 years of the Straits Times (July 15,
1845-1995)